Some things that are just the cat's meow...

We have been knee-deep in research of a piece we found back in the fall, and we're sinking deeper and deeper every day -- it's almost like we have fallen down the proverbial rabbit's hole with this thing!  We promise we'll spill the beans on that soon, when we feel like we have a better grasp on it.  BUT -- what we can tell you right now is that it has plunged us further into our love of 1920s fashion.  The dresses and various accoutrements are just dreamy.  So in honor of our newest madness, we're sharing a few items from our favorites list of 1920s loveliness!

A 1920s cloche by Gage Brothers, in our Etsy shop, here.

1920s diamond ring from Fergusons Fine Jewelry on Etsy.  Here.

Silk velvet cape from Dear Golden on Etsy, here.

1920s silk floral dress from Raleigh Vintage, here.

An amazing wax blossom headpiece from Vintage Gown, here.

Carved jade, diamond, and black enamel earrings.  Found at JewelsduJour.com.

From FuzzyLizzie.com

French silk evening dress from the Met Costume Institute's collection.  Here.

Circa 1925 heels.  More about them, here.

Junk Love: Rayon Will Get You Married!

From us to you, here's a vintage "short film" (a.k.a. really long commercial) featuring 1940s play sets, dresses, gowns, shoes....What more could you want? (film clip courtesy of archive.org)

On the Radar -- Have a Heart

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, today's post is a roundup of hearts.  The other Blackbird's birthday is on the 14th, so hearts are a classic little motif that always draw us in.  I also blame growing up in the 80s -- who didn't have a Care Bear back then?  Or a knit outfit with matching stirrup pants with a heart design?  Well, maybe that last one's just us, but I bet you did have stirrup pants! (And you love hearts.  Admit it.)

So here's a list of love-ly fashions that are as stylish as they are sweet.  It's a full-on mix of high cost and low cost, new and vintage.  XOXO

Je T'aime sweater from C Wonder, here.

Moschino Cheap & Chic dress, here.

Jeremy Scott JS Heart Sunglasses, here.

Vintage shoes from Tigerlily Frocks on Etsy, here.

Vintage bangle from Pop That Cassette on Etsy, here.

Hearts skater dress, here.

Silver heart link bracelet from our shop on Etsy, here.

White Heart cutout dress from ustrendy, here.

90s Betsey Johnson shirt from Clothes Party on Etsy, here.

Vintage Straw Courreges handbag from ShopSecretStyleEtsy, here.

Stella McCartney heart print dress, here.

On the Radar -- Botanica Mania

Traditional botanical illustrations are a classic.  And we can appreciate a classic.  However...what we really love is when classic becomes modern, especially by presenting the classics in a new or unexpected way.  The Blackbird girls love fun design, and the best new take on classic botanicals is to make it fun, whether by color, context, or through surprise.

The first example we fell in love with is some of the newer pieces from our favorite potter, Leanne Pizio.  We talked about her sgraffito pottery in this Junk Love post.  We don't own a piece like this -- yet -- but don't worry, we will. We love the color, and we also dig the playfulness of the hand carving -- it's not traditional, by any means.  It feels modern.

The we started seeing vintage botanical pull down charts in Country Living and Martha Stewart.  We love pull down charts, but we're more fans of the map and medical variety.  Educational tools as art is always modern, and we had never really though of charts with flora --

from The Impatient Gardener, here.

From Bonnie and Bell on Etsy, here.

They are dynamic, but pull down charts are expensive.  You can get the same feel with a vintage or reproduction print.  This example has great colors, and it's under $10!  Plus, I also liked how this print was displayed on a vintage clipboard -- it's quirky, and you could easily change it out with the seasons or with your mood.  Imagine a whole line of them along your wall:

From BonnBonn on Etsy, here.

This is more traditional, but I think the large scale and bright colors of this one makes it fresh:

From here.

And what about using color photocopies of prints as wallpaper?  This is stunning!

 

And if you want to wear your botanical print, check out these vintage goodies:

From Crush Vintage on Etsy, here.

From wildfellhallvintage on Etsy, here.

Or carry a 1970s botanical needlepoint handbag, available from our shop, here!

On the Radar -- The New Filigree

For today's On the Radar, we thought we'd talk about about what we call "new filigree."  We call it filigree for the openness and lace-like quality of the work, and we love that the design is created from what are, essentially, scribbles.  I mean, these people know how to scribble -- I couldn't do it at all -- and that's what makes it true art.  They possess the natural ability to just know what works, and the skill to create such beauty.

By Angelika Arendt, from here.

I love the intricacy and delicacy of these designs, but don't think they are fragile.  These patterns are bold, and in your face, modern and fresh.  They can be totally abstract or, like the one above, can include realistic elements.

from emilylynchart on Etsy, here.

There's more to it than just art for your wall, though.  The new filigree translates into many different mediums:
 

Scribble Sketchbook by Maroon Lagoon on Etsy, here.

Sterling necklace by Helen Bunch, here.

Bracelet and ring set by Rich Made on Etsy, here.

And, everything old is new again...this vintage dress from our Etsy shop!

1960s dress from our shop on Etsy, here.